Senior Abbott government ministers and the opposition have united in blasting Clive Palmer over his televised tirade against China, saying it damages Australia.

But Senator Jacqui Lambie has come out in support of her leader, asserting that Australia's defence policy should take account of the threat of a "Chinese Communist invasion".

Treasurer Joe Hockey, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop all attacked Mr Palmer after the MP and leader of the Palmer United Party used an appearance on ABC TV's Q&A program on Monday night to describe the Chinese as ''bastards'' and ''mongrels'' who shoot their own people.

Ms Bishop described Mr Palmer's outburst as "offensive, unnecessary and unacceptable for a member of Parliament".

In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday supporting Mr Palmer for his comments over the military threat of China, Senator Lambie said ‘‘the price of liberty is eternal vigilance’’.

‘‘If anybody thinks that we should have a national security and defence policy, which ignores the threat of a Chinese Communist invasion – you’re delusional and got rocks in your head,’’ her statement said.

‘‘The Communist Chinese military capacity and level of threat to the western world democracies is at an unprecedented and historical high.’’

PUP senator Zhenya Wang defended his party's leader against the criticisms in a statement, saying "From personal experience I have found Clive to be consistently respectful and supportive throughout our relationship in both the private sector and now in the political arena."

"Much of the media comment appears to ignore the context of Mr Palmer's statements which came as a result of persistent and even provocative questioning by the host. Having more than once given an appropriate answer to the questions put to him, Mr Palmer naturally reacted and used expressions that were subsequently taken out of context."

He later tweeted that his comments were ''not intended to refer to Chinese people'' but to CITIC Pacific in particular.

In the broad spray on national television, the maverick MP accused the "communist Chinese government" of trying to take over Australia's ports to steal the nation's natural resources.

"I don't mind standing up against the Chinese bastards and stopping them from doing it," he said.

"I'm saying that because they're communist, because they shoot their own people, they haven't got a justice system and they want to take over this country.

"We're not going to let them do it."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten joined the criticism of Mr Palmer on Tuesday.

‘‘Using that kind of language to describe one of Australia’s good friends and neighbours is irresponsible and certainly not in Australia’s best interests,’’ he said in a statement.

‘‘Mr Palmer’s comments don’t reflect the views of Australians or the strength of our friendship.

‘‘China is one of our most important relationships and unwarranted sprays like this are not helpful at all.’’

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has also criticised Mr Palmer’s comments, calling them ‘‘offensive, abhorrent and damaging’’ to WA and Australia’s long-standing relationship with China.

‘‘CITIC Pacific has paid all royalties owed to the West Australian government on time and in full,’’ he said.

‘‘The royalties Mr Palmer is referring to are payments owed to him and his private companies, not royalties owed to the state government on behalf of the people of Western Australia, which are payments for the iron ore resource.

‘‘His comments are deliberately misleading.’’

Mr Barnett said China was the nation’s biggest trading partner and Mr Palmer’s comments did not reflect the view of the WA government.

‘‘I apologise for any offence caused by Mr Palmer’s remarks,’’ the premier said.

Labor's shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said Mr Palmer had rightly received criticism for his comments about China.

''The Chinese-Australia relationship is a vitally important one. I think all Australians understand that,'' he said.

''I think Mr Palmer's comments were unhelpful in that regard and while it's a matter for him they're not comments that could be in any way endorsed or agreed with.''

399 comments

it wouldn't be like Clive to create a furore so that he doesn't have to answer a tough question.

Commenter

Dean

Location

Terranora

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 12:07PM

@Dean:Madam Death Stare didn't seem to mind having a dig at the Chinese and the Russians so maybe it was Clive's turn to put his foot in it. Punching above our weight again? Seriously, neither super power could care less what a minor bit player like Australia has to say about things. They probably think that its just our crazy leadership raving on about Team Australia and other pedantic slogans.

Commenter

JohnC

Location

Gosford NSW

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 1:08PM

Nah, the tough question is. 'Is it really ok to be selling off the farm and kowtowing to a human right abusing, totalitarian regime just for the sake of making some short term money?'. No-one in Australian politics will dare to ask that question. Only Clive. Good on him.

Commenter

dulan

Location

taiwan

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 1:30PM

the entire parliament should be called team redneck. what an utter embarrassment the lot of them are. With Clive now leading the pack just ahead of team israel ( julie bishop ) and following in the foot steps of deputy dog lil john - team america ( TA ).

Commenter

smilingjack

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 1:35PM

...who are these muppets, honestly...

Commenter

Nickface

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 1:59PM

dulan - I suppose that really depends on what the money is spent on. Can't educate, cloth, feed or provide healthcare to those in need with a lump of rock. Clive is yet again using a forum to push is own agenda by falsely claiming somehow the rest of us are in the same boat as him and his companies.

Commenter

TC

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 2:22PM

Mr Palmer is truly bogan billionaire; he dares to tell the truth. Now everyone else will try to attack him. This is not a democratic Australia; Mr Palmer good on ya; at least we have a decent senator to make Canberra more interesting to watch.

Commenter

Elite

Location

Sydney

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 2:38PM

i totally agree with dulan, it's not about racism it's about australians not owning important food producing farmland and our country being in the hands of others than australians

Commenter

australian

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 2:38PM

When you put petrol in your car, dulan, do you think about the kind of regimes that have supplied it?

Commenter

dds154

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 2:57PM

It is however rather odd the after the governments championing of free speech, all of a sudden they have decided absolute free speech is not so appropriate after all. Sadly simply calling it offensive does not undo the damage it creates on the innocent bystanders who get caught under the national identity umbrella.

Blanket racially derogatory remarks don't just effect the Chinese government, but they adversely impact of every day Chinese and or other nationalities who get caught up in the spotlight and singled out for verbal abuse.

19 Aug
On the eve of a meeting with Clive Palmer, Scott Morrison has belatedly pledged to get young children out of mainland detention centres and into the community on bridging visas by year's end. To what end?